The Committee considered a report that recommended the adoption of a Street Trading Policy for Reading for 2023-2028. A copy of the proposed Street Trading Policy was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The Street Trading Policy had been developed to improve the quality of the town centre experience and would allow the Council to regulate unwanted street trading activities more effectively. The Policy looked to enhance visitors’ experience of the town and improve how it functioned as a commercial centre. The Policy would ensure that residents, visitors and businesses would have greater certainty about how the Council viewed, monitored and managed street trading activity and would provide confidence that street trading had been properly considered, debated and a clear policy position had been formed. The Street Trading Policy aimed to:

·       ensure fair trading between mobile premises in the Borough;

·       protect the amenity of residents by ensuring that licenced traders did not cause nuisance, damage, disturbance or annoyance;

·       ensure the safety of the people using street traders;

·       promote diversity and consumer choice; and

·       provide applicants with advice and guidance on the Council’s approach to the administration of applications for street trading consents and licences.

The Street Trading Policy contained general guidance and advice to applicants, information on how to apply for Street Trading Consent, information on how the Council would determine applications, information on renewals, refusals and appeals, information relating to transfers and variations, information on the Council’s enforcement activities and its complaints investigation process, information relating to waste management, information concerning pitch sharing and detail regarding relevant fees and payments.

The report also explained that a voluntary consultation on the new Street Trading Policy would be undertaken for a period of one month. It was noted that there was no legal requirement for the Council to conduct a consultation but that doing so would provide the opportunity to obtain valuable community input on the newly adopted Street Trading Policy.  

Resolved:

(1)           That the Street Trading Policy, as attached to the report at Appendix 1, be adopted;

(2)           That the intention to carry out a voluntary consultation on the Street Trading Policy to seek the views of the local community be noted.